Plane, a tool Plate, wrought silver Pleas, excuses Plumb, a leaden Poor, needy President, governor Quire, of paper Radish, a root Reddish, somewhat red Rain, water Rest, to lean on Wrest, to force Presence, being pre- Wretch, a worthless Road, a way Rode, did ride Row, of trees Roe, an animal Rome, a city Room, space Roam, to ramble Rote, memory Wrote, did write Rough, uneven Route, a way Rye, grain Sail, of a ship Satire, a poem Saver, that saves Sow, to scatter of Scent, smell Sent, did send Retch, to vomit sent person Presents, gifts Prior, former Rhone, a river Prier, one who pries Roan, a kind colour Principal, chief Principle, a first Rhyme, poetry cause Rime, hoar frost LESSON 13. The days that are passed are gone for ever: those that are to come, may not come to us; the present time only is ours: let us therefore improve it as much as possible. Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well; but we can do nothing well without pains and care. We cannot be good as God is good, to all persons everywhere; but we can rejoice that everywhere there is a God to do them good. Fancy paints pleasures at a distance in gay colours; but possession often takes away their beauty. How glorious an object is the sun! but how much more glorious is that great and good Being who made it for our use! Behold, how rich and beautiful are the works of nature: what a provision is made for our wants and pleasures! Surely the Author of so many blessings is worthy of our gratitude and love. If we consider how much the pleasure of all around us depends on our temper, we should strive to render it sweet and amiable. LESSON 14. God is the kindest and best of beings. He is our father. He approves us when we do well: he pities us when we err: and he desires to make us happy for ever. How greatly should we love so good and kind a Father! and how careful should we be to serve and please him! Who would change the humble peace which virtue gives, for all the honours and pleasures of a vain world? How pleasant it is when we lie down at night to reflect that we are at peace with all persons! that we have done the duties of the day; and that the Almighty beholds and loves us. Listen to the counsels of your parents; treasure up their precepts; respect their judgment; and enjoy their society. Bind to your bosom your brothers and sisters, cherish them as your dearest companions through the journey of life. They who view their companions in a pleasing light, are like persons who dwell amidst the beautiful scenes of nature, on which the eye rests with pleasure. A family where God is reverenced, where parents are honoured, where brothers and sisters dwell together in love, where peace and order reign,-is a delightful spectacle. It is desirable for youth to be able to read before company with propriety; and if required to recite, to do it gracefully. In Recitations, the first requisite is to speak so as to be fully and easily understood; and the next, to speak with grace and force. The first requires a due degree of loudness of voice, so as to fill the space occupied by the audience; a distinctness in the utterance of every syllable; a moderate slowness; and a propriety of pronunciation, or the giving to every word that sound which is used by the most polite speakers. But to add grace and force to what is uttered, regard must be paid to Emphasis, Pauses, Tones, and Gestures. To give the just Emphasis, consider the meaning, and the force and spirit of the sentiments. Pauses sometimes mark the sense; at other times they are emphatical. The Tones also should be natural, as in animated conversation. All monotony should be avoided. Much Gesture may be proper for public speakers, but in very young persons be omitted. it may Stand, however, in an easy, erect attitude; guard against all affectation; let your countenance correspond with the subject; and let all your movements be natural and graceful. See Blair. 2. DUTIES OF CHILDREN. Parents, in general, behave to their children so as to deserve and to obtain their love. But if the kindness of the parent be not such as shall secure the affections of the child, still the parent has a title to respect and obedience, on the principle of duty. This is a principle, which the voice of nature dictates; which reason inculcates; which human laws and customs all enforce; and which the word of God commands. The child will show respect to his parent, by treating him at all times with deference. He will consult his parents' inclination, and show a readiness, in a thousand instances, to conform to it. There is another part of filial duty, which belongs to children when grown up; which is, if needful, to administer to the wants of the parent, or to assist him in the management of his affairs. And this the child should do, on the united principles of love, duty, and gratitude. Gilpin 3. DUTIES OF SCHOLARS. Children should love those who teach them, as they love the sciences which they learn of them; and to look upon them as fathers from whom they derive not the life of the body, but that instruction which is, in a manner, the life of the soul. To submit to directions, and readily to receive the instructions of their masters, is the duty of scholars, as that of the masters is to teach well. The one can do nothing without the other. Gratitude for those who have laboured in our education is the character of an honest man, and the mark of a good heart. Who is there that hath been taught with any care, that is not delighted with the sight or even the bare remembrance of his master, and the place where he was taught? And though their severity may displease at an age when we are incapable of judging, we afterwards see that it is the very thing which should make us esteem and love them. Rollin. |